Do you taper off Entocort

[cricket81]

okay, so my husband just finished a round of entocort (I don't remember the dosage, I know that's terrible) he was taking three pills ever day for a month. Is he supposed to be tapering his doses until he is weaned off of it? I talked to a different nurse today and she was surprised that he was taking his meds that way. We were doing what his doctor told him to. What are the repercussions of this?

 

[Becky]

I have always been tapered off entocort. I am in the process of it now.

 

[cricket81]

what could happen if you don't? I hate our GI doctor.

 

[Skinny Dub]

The first time a took entocort I was tapered off three pills a day to two a day to one a day probably over a months span. recently I went back on and it wasn't helping me so they put my me straight onto predison no tapering (a stronger steroid then entocort). Now tapering off of that from what I understand you shouldn't just stop taking drugs like this because your body will not adjust well it becomes dependent on it.

 

[littleone]

when i was on it i took 3 a day for 4 weeks and then 2 a day for 2 or 3 weeks. but he only wrote it for 100 pills and it only lasted about 5 weeks. i didn't taper down to 1 tho.

 

[JillianB82]

I was on Entocort for about 4 months, & was not tapered off, I finished my script that month, per GI's orders & I felt great for about 3 weeks after. Then, I got my period & BAM instant flare!!! Some days I feel great & others not so much. I was also on 3 pills a day Good luck to your Hubby!!!

 

[GoJohnnyGo]

Technically, it's possible to cut cold turkey, but I tapered down anyways.

 

[imisspopcorn]

I was tapered off Entocort as well. I was down to one pill every other day,then every three days etc...When you are on corticoid steriods(Prednisone,Entocort) long term, your adrenal glands can stop producing the normal amounts of cortisol. So you shouldn't stop abruptly. Entocort isn't absorbed systemically like Prednisone is. Entocort's effects are more concentrated in the large bowel so stopping quickly probably isn't as dangerous. But, I believe you can have a rebound inflammation if you don't taper. Hope this helps.

 

[Guestly]

I have been tapering too - have managed to get down to two per day, but if I drop to one everything goes off again. Don't think I could cope with cold turkey - would need a toilet surgically attached to my butt to cope with the consequences!

 

[cricket81]

Thanks guys, sorry I didn't post a reply. We have been on a golf retreat this weekend and this is the first time I have had access to my computer. I talked to the GI office yesterday and they want him to start taking entocort again until his follow up appointment on the 24th. I guess he was never supposed to stop it but we were never informed of this nor was there any refills on the prescription. I feel like I'm asking a hundred questions at the office but I'm still not asking the right ones or enough.

Thanks for your information, it was more helpful than anything the doctors office told us.